JP2007160089A - System including portable patient device and external operating part - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a patient system, which may be applied to a patient's body comparatively unnoticeably and allow the patient to adjust and check unnoticeably. <P>SOLUTION: This patient system 1 includes: a first patient device 2 portable on the body of a patient; and a second patient device 4 arranged remotely from the first patient device 2. A user interface of the first patient device 2 can display separately from it the second patient device 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates generally to a system having a portable patient device. The present invention specifically relates to the operation of patient devices.

  Portable patient devices are known for various applications such as blood pressure measurement, pulse measurement, ECG recording, and drug delivery. These patient devices are now an important aid in diagnosis and treatment, which provides physicians with measurements that provide information under, for example, everyday conditions, while patients are able to live their daily lives without significant limitations. can do.

  One example of a patient device that delivers a drug is an insulin pump such as, for example, the Accu-Chek® insulin pump provided by Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany. Patients generally carry insulin pumps in their bodies. Insulin is continuously delivered into the body by an insulin pump through a thin tube with a cannula placed under the skin. The microprocessor controls a motor that moves the plunger of the insulin vial, for example, via a threaded rod every 3 minutes. This movement, corresponding to each programmed basic ratio, ie the patient's basic insulin demand, supplies the body with the required amount of insulin. The patient can adjust and operate the insulin pump via a user interface including a display unit (display) and buttons.

  These patient devices are relatively modest and unobtrusive and can be worn on the patient's body. During the day, the patient will occasionally need to check the device adjustments or settings, which may not be very noticeable in certain situations.

  Thus, the purpose is to allow the patient to adjust and check the patient device less noticeably. In order to enable this in an exemplary embodiment of a patient system as described herein, the user interface of the patient device is decoupled from the patient system, for example on a device located remotely from the patient device. Can be shown. The patient can conveniently and unobtrusively operate this device, which can be a component of a mobile phone, for example.

  One aspect relates to a patient system having a first patient device that is portable on the patient's body and a second patient device that is located remotely from the first patient device and is also referred to herein as an operating device. Each patient device has a communication module for data transmission via a transmission link. The first patient device has a data processing module that communicates with a user interface for the first patient device. The second patient device is configured to show a user interface of the portable first patient device.

  Another aspect is that a first patient device portable on the patient's body and a second patient device located remotely from the first patient device can communicate with each other via a transmission link. The present invention relates to a method for operating a patient system. A data processing module that communicates with the user interface of the first patient device is operated within the first patient device. Data relating to the user interface is communicated between the first and second patient devices, and the user interface of the first patient device is delegated by the second patient device.

  The remotely located device can be a device specially provided for the patient system, which is only used to show the user interface. However, this function of the device is useful in devices that are known per se (for example mobile phones (smartphones), computers (desktop computers, pocket PCs, laptop computers, PDAs), blood glucose meters, etc.), for example additional applications. It can also be integrated in the form. Thus, such an improved device additionally has the function of a self-function, for example the function of a mobile phone, and the operating device for a patient device.

  Depending on the embodiment, the user interface can be fully or partially integrated into the patient device. Thus, in some cases, direct intervention with an undesirable patient device is not necessary. As a result, the patient device can also be made smaller because a minimal user interface, such as a small display, is required for the patient device. The display can also be omitted entirely in the exemplary embodiment. Such a patient device can therefore be carried by the patient without being very noticeable.

  Since the user interface is shown externally, the display size of the user interface is no longer limited by the size of the patient device. That is, the user interface can be represented on, for example, a larger display (for example, a mobile phone (smart phone) or a computer (desktop computer, pocket PC, notebook computer, PDA)). In particular, diabetic patients who often have poor vision can see better with a large display.

  The operating device described herein has at least the same function as the user interface of the patient device. Depending on the exemplary embodiment and application, the operating device can serve as a remote control, monitor and status display for the patient device. Thus, the operating device can also be used to change the parameters and settings of the patient device.

  Further configurations, advantages, new features and applications of the present invention will be found in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same elements have the same reference numerals.

  Without limiting the scope of protection, various methods embodying the present invention are described below in connection with an insulin pump. However, an insulin pump is just one example of a patient device that the patient desires to carry and operate as inconspicuously as possible. Other drug pumps, glucose meters, lactate meters, blood pressure meters, and ECG devices are yet another example of a patient device.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a patient system 1 having a first patient device 2 and a second patient device 4 or operating device 4. The patient apparatus 2 includes a display unit 6, which will be referred to as a display 6 below, and operation buttons 12. The operating device 4 further includes a display unit 8 and a keypad 14 which are also referred to below as a display 8.

  The display 6 and the operation buttons 12 are part of the user interface of the patient device 2. The user interface is generally used for interaction between the patient and the patient device 2 and in particular allows the patient to operate the patient device 2. The user interface expresses information optically or acoustically, for example. The patient can react to the information represented according to the situation of the patient apparatus 2 by pressing the operation button 12 for the purpose of confirming the displayed information, for example. The information displayed also includes alarms and alarm and error messages. Such alerts and messages can be communicated to the patient, for example, by text message, acoustic signal (buzzer), or vibration. Thus, the user interface also includes equipment that generates acoustic signals and vibrations.

  The patient device 2 and the operating device 4 communicate via a transmission link 10. Depending on the configuration of the devices (2, 4) present in the patient system 1, the transmission link 10 can be configured for wireless data transmission. Therefore, the user interface of the patient device 2 can be indicated by the operation device 4, and as a result, the patient can operate the patient device 4 without being conspicuous from a remote position. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transmission link 10 is configured for wireless and bidirectional data transmission.

  In one exemplary embodiment, data can be exchanged over the transmission link 10 according to the Bluetooth standard (Serial Port Profile (SSP)) with application layer protocols. The Bluetooth standard is developed for wireless communication in the short range of voice and data and operates at a maximum 1 Mbit / s transmission rate in the 2.45 GHz band. In another exemplary embodiment, the transmission can occur according to IrDA, WLAN (802.11x), Zigbee, WiMax, or Mics protocols.

  In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, as described above, the patient device 2 is an insulin pump. The display 6 shows the basic ratio (1.0) adjusted in FIG. In another exemplary embodiment, the display 6 during normal operation may further show information such as basic rate units (U / h) and time. The patient can operate the patient device 2 by means of the menu control using the button 12, such as adjusting the basic ratio or releasing a bolus. During operation of the patient device 2, the display 6 shows a user menu.

  1 is configured in the form of a cellular phone schematically shown. The display 8 likewise shows the basic ratio (1.0) adjusted on the patient device 2. As will be described in more detail below, the display 8 represents an image of read information on the display 6. The patient can operate the patient device 2 from a remote location via a menu displayed on the keypad 14 and the display unit 6. Depending on the configuration of the operating device 4 (special device or composite device), the keypad 14 can include selection buttons (eg menu, selection, OK, up and down, etc.) and a kind of joystick. The operation device 4 can additionally or alternatively correspond to various input and output methods such as function buttons, touch panel, voice, sound and visual signals.

  FIG. 2 shows the patient system 1 of FIG. 1, with additional details of the patient device 2 and the operating device 4 shown schematically by way of example. The patient device 2 has various modules in addition to the display 6 and the buttons 12 described above. The data processing module 20 is used for communication with the operation interface, and includes a main program for controlling the pump and the display 6 in accordance with button input and setting display reading information. The data processing module 20 generates data that drives the pixels of the display to display information. For this purpose, the data communication module 20 communicates directly or indirectly with the plurality of modules 16, 18, 22. The module 16 processes button inputs performed on the patient device 2 or the operation device 4 using the buttons 12. The module 16 receives button inputs made on the operating device 4 that are preprocessed from the module 18. The module 18 receives a button input made on the operation device 4 as a data signal corresponding to this input from the module 22, that is, the data processing module 20 connected to the communication module 22.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the communication module 22 sends and receives data according to the Bluetooth standard. For example, the communication module 22 transmits the current display reading information to the controller device 4 for each pixel. The communication module 22 further receives data corresponding to the function selected by pressing a button, for example, from the operation device 4. These data are subsequently processed by the module 18.

  In addition to the display, the operating device 4 also has a program module 26 and a communication module 24, which operates according to the same standard / protocol as the communication module 22 and communicates with the communication module 22 of the patient device 2. Used for. The program module 26 generally also controls the operating device 4 and thus the display 8.

  The patient system 1 can be regarded as a client / server system. The patient device 2 is a server and the operation device 4 is a client. The patient system 1 can be operated in a “push” mode or a “request” mode. In push mode, patient device 2 operates as a “push” server. Information about the patient device 2 may change during use, for example, due to an error message or an alarm (eg, an occlusion alarm). When the information about the patient device 2 changes (for example, display reading information, alarm (buzzer, vibration)), the corresponding data is automatically transmitted from the patient device 2 to the operation device 4 and mounted, for example, information is displayed. Or an alarm is activated, i.e., for example, the operating device 4 starts buzzing or vibrating. Therefore, the controller device 4 is passive and waits until the latest information is transmitted.

  The patient device 2 is passive in the “request” mode, ie the patient device 2 does not send data to the operating device 4 alone. In this mode, the operating device 4 needs to independently request information from the patient device 2 periodically, for example.

  The application layer protocol implemented in the patient system 1 is a command input type. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the following commands: remote control mode start / end, display data request, information text request, buzzer data request, and vibration data request, keystroke transmission, and mode setting (push or Request) can be transmitted from the operating device 4 to the patient device 2. In a similar manner, for example, the following commands: display data, information text, buzzer data and vibration data can be transmitted from the patient device 2 to the operating device 4.

  When the patient device 2 receives the “display data request” command from the operation device 4 or the display content is changed to the “push” mode, the patient device 2 displays the current content of the display 6 with the “display data” command. It transmits to the operating device 4. In this context, FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the display 6, which is composed of individual pixels. The display is 32 × 96 pixels in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, and 8 pixels can each be encoded in 1 byte. In monochrome display, each pixel is either black or white. This gives 384 bytes ((32 × 96) / 8) for each display content. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the display 6 is comprised of four columns, each column covering a 96 × 8 pixel area.

  The patient device 2 transmits the display content to the operation device 4 for each column. In one exemplary embodiment, after receiving the first “Display Display Data” command (RequestDisplayData (0)), the patient device 2 sends the first column (bytes 0 to 95), then , Send each next column after each add command. When all four columns are transmitted, the patient device 2 responds to the next command (RequestDisplayData (4)) by transmitting all of the display data (384 bytes).

  Therefore, the operating device 4 receives an image of the current display reading information from the patient device 2 and draws this image on the display 8 for each pixel. In the minimal embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the display is limited to display the value 1.0. In one exemplary embodiment, the image on the display 8 can be supplemented with additional information, for example by displaying the unit of the basic ratio in U / h and the current time. Therefore, the display on the operating device 4 is more comprehensive than the display on the patient device 2. Thus, in the “minimum embodiment” of the patient device 2, the display 6 can be relatively small or omitted altogether.

  In another exemplary embodiment of the patient system, the operating device 4 can be combined with a glucose meter as the patient device. As with the patient device 2 described above, the glucose meter user interface can be shown on the operating device 4. When the operation device 4 is combined with a mobile phone, for example, the operation device 4 and the glucose meter can be coupled via a wireless or interface device. Thus, the glucose meter can accommodate without having a unique display. The measured glucose value can then be shown on the display 8. In an exemplary embodiment, if the above-described patient device 2 (insulin pump) is part of this patient system, the patient conveniently reads this value and makes the pump adjustment unnoticeable on the operating device 4 as needed. Can be corrected.

  When the operating device 4 is integrated into a mobile phone, in one exemplary embodiment, the mobile phone can evaluate, for example, insulin pump parameters and measured glucose values. If the assessment reveals that there is a medical alert condition, the mobile phone can send an alert to an emergency center or doctor via a mobile phone network, for example. The center or physician can then initiate the appropriate action to apply the medical treatment to the patient.

  As described above, an exemplary embodiment of a patient system having at least one patient device and an operating device allows the user interface of the patient device to be transferred completely or only partially within the operating device. Thus, the patient can adjust and manipulate the patient device at a remote location without being conspicuous conveniently. The degree of freedom to directly operate the patient device 4 is still maintained.

1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a patient system having a patient device and an operating device. FIG. 2 shows the patient system of FIG. 1 with details of the patient device and operating device. The schematic of a display unit is shown.

Explanation of symbols

2 First patient device 4 Second patient device 6 Display unit 8 Display unit 10 Transmission link 12 Operation button 12
14 Input device

Claims (16)

A first patient device (2) portable on the patient's body;
A second patient device (4) disposed away from the first patient device (2);
A patient system (1) comprising:
Each said patient device (2, 4) has a communication module (22, 24) for data transmission via a transmission link (10), said first patient device (2) being said first patient A data processing module (20) for communicating with a user interface for the device (2), wherein the second patient device (4) is a user interface for the portable first patient device (2) A patient system configured to represent.   The data processing module (20) generates data handling pixels to represent information on a display unit (6, 8), and a communication module (22) of the first patient device (2) 2. The patient system according to claim 1, wherein these data are transmitted to the communication module (24) of the second patient device (4) to represent information on the display unit (8) of the second patient device (4). (1).   The patient system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first patient device (2) likewise has a display unit (6) and represents the information display.   4. Patient system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the second patient device (4) displays additional information, in particular alarms or alarms and error messages, in addition to the information display.   Among the claims, the data processing module (20) generates data to drive a device in the second patient device (4) for generating an acoustic or vibration alarm. 2. The patient system (1) according to item 1.   The user interface shown on the second patient device (4) includes at least one input device (14), and the communication module (24) of the second patient device (4) receives data corresponding to the input. The patient system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the is transmitted to the first patient device (2).   The patient system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication module (22, 24) is configured to be able to send and receive radio signals.   The patient system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second patient device (4) is a mobile phone or a computer. A first patient device (2) portable on the patient's body and a second patient device (4) arranged remotely from the first patient device (2) are connected via a transmission link (10). Operating a patient system (1) that can communicate with each other,
A data processing module (20) for communicating with a user interface for the first patient device (2) is operated in the first patient device (2),
Data relating to the user interface is communicated between the first and second patient devices (2, 4);
A user interface for the first patient device (2) is shown on the second patient device (4),
A method characterized by that.   Pixel handling data is generated by the data processing module (20) to display information on the display unit (6, 8) and these data are sent to the second patient device (4), The method according to claim 9, wherein said information is adapted to be represented on a display unit (8) of said second patient device (4).   At least one input is performed by the user interface shown on the second patient device (4), and data corresponding to this input is transmitted to the first patient device (2). The method of claim 10.   12. Of the claims 9 to 11, wherein data is generated at the first patient device (2) to drive the device of the second patient device (4) for generating an acoustic or vibration alarm. 2. The method according to item 1.   As soon as the information about the first patient device (2) changes, data about the user interface is transmitted from the first patient device (2) to the second patient device (4). The method according to one of claims 9 to 12.   The method according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein at least one command is transmitted from the second patient device (4) and requests data relating to a user interface from the first patient device (2). .   The method according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein data relating to the user interface is transmitted in bytes by the first patient device (2).   Each byte corresponds to a region on the display (6), so that the display display of the first patient device (2) is drawn on the display (8) of the second patient device (4). 15. The method according to 15.

Images